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Premier League chief says Infantino pressed 'self-destruct button' with failed World Cup plan

AF

AFP

Published 1 hour ago

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says under-fire FIFA president Gianni Infantino pressed the "self-destruct button" over his botched plan to bring private investment into the World Cup.

[p]Kevin Lamour, who broke ranks with senior directors at world football's governing body last month and issued a scathing statement criticising Infantino over the plans, left his job as FIFA's chief operating officer on Monday.[/p][p]UEFA has been a vocal critic of Infantino and England's Football Association has also withdrawn its support for the FIFA president.[/p][p][b]"This is a problem of FIFA's making,"[/b] Masters told the [i]BBC[/i].[/p][p][b]"This is a self-inflicted wound. The organisation has pressed the self-destruct button, and the consequences of that flow now into the solutions that need to be found.[/b][/p][p][b]"I don't think FIFA should be ever contemplating selling off a stake in the World Cup.[/b][/p][p][b]"They're a not-for-profit organisation. They should really be holding that competition in trust for the future of football."[/b][/p][p]Masters added: [b]"I think it's a bad idea, and the FA have taken the right position regards to Gianni."[/b][/p][p]As for a possible rival to Infantino, up for re-election next year, Masters said: "I think an emerging unity candidate should have on his or her agenda reform of FIFA, and perhaps even reform of the president's role and how it interacts with those things."[/p]

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